4th Grade - 2018 Recertification

Student Created Maryland Organism Field Guide

NGSS - 4-LS1-1 - Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

​20 studentsIn the spring of 2015, students identified organisms that live in Maryland. They generated questions and conducted research to answer their questions. Students took ownership of their work when they were provided the opportunity to answer some required questions but also select questions that were interesting to them as individuals.

Cattail Investigations

NGSS - 4-LS1-1 - Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

​Spring 2016 (60 students) and January 2018 (21 students)Students retrieved cattails from our school wetlands. They performed a dissection in order to learn about specific attributes that make this plant such an amazing survivor in its environment. The identified rhizomes and their role in plant reproduction, took apart the leaves and used microscopes to see inside, and experienced just how many seeds are in the flower of the plant. Students were able to use their observations to discuss how the internal and external features help the plant to survive.